Sheriff Makes Bid To Guard Courthouse

The Price Of Security At The Orange County Courthouse Would Rise. But No One Has Said Security Is Poor.

April 13, 1998|By Kevin Spear of The Sentinel Staff

Orange County's new court- house is a virtual fortress, with even its air-conditioning ducts built for security.

Yet the Orange County sheriff proposes to make the courthouse safer by replacing private guards at entryways with his employees.

Doing so would cost an extra $750,000 annually. The number of guards would not rise - sheriff's employees are more costly than private guards.

The higher cost will almost certainly provoke debate Tuesday when county commissioners discuss the issue. Court, county and sheriff's officials don't say current security is poor.

Sheriff's Capt. Raymond Permaul Jr., head of courthouse security, said the only reason for the proposal boils down to a chance to improve security.

Blueprints for the courthouse were drawn with a bloody legacy in mind. In 1984, a man brought several guns into a trial. In the shooting spree that ensued, he killed two bailiffs and left a corrections officer paralyzed.

The courthouse has hundreds of video cameras and an array of electronic gizmos.

Despite electronic card-key problems in the first few months, the 24-story courthouse and its office wings are still considered far safer than the county's former court buildings.

Entryway security is provided by about a dozen Argenbright Security Inc. guards and seven sheriff's employees who are not deputies but civilian officers. The two forces work together, backed by an armed deputy sheriff, checking for weapons.

Officially, Argenbright guards answer to the county's General Services Department, which handles a variety of county operations.

``They[ Argenbright employees) have done a good job,'' said Sam Anderson, manager of General Services. An Argenbright spokeswoman would not comment.

Permaul said the overall level of security at entrances would rise by getting rid of Argenbright and hiring about 50 sheriff's civilian court officers.

On Tuesday, commissioners will consider a new security contract. Argenbright is the top-ranked bidder seeking the contract with a proposed price of $525,000 annually.

The sheriff proposes doing the job for $1.3 million.

Most of the money would go toward courthouse security, with some for security at annexes in Ocoee, Apopka, Winter Park and juvenile court.

Chief Judge Belvin Perry said he prefers that all guards work for the sheriff. But if Argenbright remains, the guards should be under the sheriff's direct supervision, he said.